Drug task force arrests 2 in separate searches

FREMONT - Two city residents have been arrested in separate searches executed by the Sandusky County Drug Task Force.

Task force commander Mark Apple said law enforcement searched a commercial building on Allen Street around 3 p.m. Monday and found suspected heroin, suspected methamphetamine and suspected marijuana.

Kevin Wierzorek, 39, was charged with probation violation, but Apple said additional charges of drug trafficking and drug possession will be presented to a Sandusky County grand jury.

The substances believed to be drugs were sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation crime lab in Bowling Green.

Drug paraphernalia and $200 also were seized.

Wiezorek posted bond and was released from jail.

Cortney Castillo(Photo11: Sandusky County Jail)

A second search on Monday was executed by the task force at 809½ Hayes Ave., about a half-mile from the Allen Street search, where authorities arrested Cortney Castillo, 27, who had active warrants for her arrest on a probation violation.

During the search, Apple said agents from the drug task force seized pills, scales, needles and other drug paraphernalia found at the scene.

Castillo faces additional charges of drug trafficking and possession of drugs pending a Sandusky County grand jury review of her case, according to Apple.

Since the beginning of March, the drug task force began receiving funding from the levy passed last May by a narrow margin of just 162 votes — 4,472 to 4,310 — or a margin of 50.92 percent in favor to 49.08 percent against.

The levy's passage created $697,000 annually for the task force for five years.

Sandusky County Prosecutor Tim Braun, who oversees the task force, said cases are beginning to reach resolutions through the court system more promptly, after more than 100 cases had been backlogged due to a lack of staffing both in the prosecutor's office and on the task force.

Braun said more indictments have been sent through the court system and drug cases are no longer backlogged because the levy funds enabled his office to hire more staff.

Drug task force cases are now being handled by Braun and assistant prosecutor Ken Walz.

"I'm very pleased where we are right now," Braun said of the task force. "We got a lot done last year, but we are now in a good place to get more done."